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All this week we’re looking back over the Story of WIF, since our foundation in the mid-2000s, and today it’s time to focus on our events. From small online gatherings to the epic Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays – and our many professional development initiatives – bringing our members together has made so many good things happen over the years. Here are a few of the milestones and highlights...

 

2006

First event, hosted by Charlton Athletic FC, provides a safe space for women in football and other sports to come together, share their experiences and build a sense of community. Encouraged by its success, the organisers form a committee which will become the basis of Women in Football.

 

2007

First event officially under the Women in Football banner, hosted by West Ham United, brings together a panel featuring some of the most influential women in the game at that time. Heather Rabbatts, then executive deputy chair of Millwall FC, proves an inspirational speaker.

 

2008–2014

Regular events provide a forum for the steadily growing membership of Women in Football to meet, swap stories and contacts, and hear from women beating the odds to build successful careers in the game. Clubs hosting WIF events include Arsenal, Fulham, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

 

2015

The first (and so far only) Women in Football Awards take place in London’s Canary Wharf, hosted by lead partner Barclays. High-profile figures in attendance include Chelsea manager Emma Hayes, who receives the Achievement Award, cheered on by her players Eniola Aluko, Katie Chapman and Claire Rafferty.

 

 

2016

Women in Football’s first Leadership Course sessions take place in October, hosted by board member Liz Ellen at Mishcon de Reya. The course is led by fellow director Ebru Köksal with a talk from Jane Purdon, then Head of Governance at UK Sport. The same month, supported by the FA, a WIF leadership event takes place at Wembley Stadium as part of Girls’ Football Week. Participants include the then Arsenal and England full-back Alex Scott.

 

2017

WIF 10th anniversary celebration takes place at the House of Lords, where guests arrive to the sound of a string quartet playing the Match of the Day theme. Jacqui Oatley introduces a panel featuring Dr Eva Carneiro, Lucy Oliver, Ebru Köksal and Elizabeth Nyamayaro, director of the United Nations’ HeForShe campaign for gender equality, who travels to the event from New York.

 

2018

Women in Football return to Wembley Stadium for a first event celebrating male allies, with a sell-out audience. After an introduction from WIF director Jo Tongue, host Benny Bonsu introduces a panel comprising Sky Sports’ Jon Holmes, WIF director Ben Carter, Mark Bullingham of the FA and Richard Bevan of the League Managers’ Association.

 

2019

The WIF Leadership Course extends its reach with the addition of levels 3 and 4. A first collaboration with The Adecco Group leads to the Future Players' Initiative, a workshop offering professional development for female footballers, hosted by Twitter UK.

 

2020

In February, for the first time, a Manchester-based edition of the Women in Football Leadership Course in partnership with Barclays comprises all four levels. Women in Football’s programme of face-to-face events is then put on hold as the Covid-19 pandemic sends the UK into lockdown. Several types of online events are introduced, including WIF round tables, webinars, and a Zoom edition of the Leadership Course.

 

2021

As lockdown restrictions are eased, ‘real life’ events resume with a fabulous networking, panel and match event for Women’s Football Weekend at Brighton & Hove Albion FC. Women in Football’s online programme has proved popular with members, however – enabling access for those with limited ability to travel – and will continue alongside the regular programme of face-to-face meet-ups.

 

2022

Delayed by a month by a fresh wave of Covid, the first Women in Football Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays takes place at Wembley Stadium in March. Delighted delegates suggest extending subsequent editions of the conference to a second day. Other events this year include Football Came Home! – a celebration of the Lionesses’ epic WEURO 2022 win – and Champion Your Future, a career planning event building on the Future Players Initiative. Partnerships with PepsiCo and Heineken become the basis for mentoring and coaching programmes.

 

 

2023

A second Women in Football Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays goes ahead, this time extended to a second day. WIF survey results are announced at Manchester’s Hotel Football, ahead of a World Cup watch party. The Next Goal programme, in partnership with The Adecco Group and LHH, provides further career transition support for female footballers. Working with Xero, WIF launches a mentorship programme to support female entrepreneurs around the football industry. A collaboration with UCFB results in a graduate careers fair, with Women in Football staff and members on hand to give advice.

 

2024

Now-legendary manager Emma Hayes OBE returns to the first Women in Football Be Inspired Conference in partnership with Barclays in one of her last public appearances before leaving Chelsea for the USA. A WIF first networking event in Scotland, taking place at Glasgow’s Hampden Park, is supported by new corporate member Sodexo Live! Ground-breaking Women’s Health Summit in collaboration with Elevate and Fulham FC is a huge success – as is a male allyship event supported by tms. WIF’s first ‘regional hub’ event takes place with Brighton & Hove Albion’s Women’s Equality Network.

• Next in the Story of WIF: Joining forces

Make sure you don't miss a thing by checking the WIF events web pages as we make more things happen!

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